Double seaming machine



' Sept; 1, 1936.

H. L. GUENTHER DOUBLE SEAMING MACHINE Filed July so; 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR/ HE/ve Y LGUENT'HEE.

ATTORNEY- Sept, 1, 1936.

H. L. GUENTHER DOUBLE SEAMING MACHINE Filed July so, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 69 5 Ila ZQ MZLW ATTORNEY Sept. 1, 1936 L, GUENTHER 2,052,620

- DOUBLE SEAMING MACHINE Filed July 50, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 TQQQIMM 74.

ATTORNE 1 Patented Sept. 1, 1936 7 s'rrss Mrs 2,052,620 DOUBLE SEAMINGQ'M'IACHINE Henry L. Guenther, LosAngeles, Calif. v

Application July 30, 1932, Serial No. 627,077

' 10 Claims. (01.113-24) This invention'relates to can making machinindicates a base structure upon which a bed cry, and particularly pertains to a can double plate II is mounted. The bed plate rests upon seaming machine. the base and is secured thereto, and at one side In cannery operations, double seaming macarries a vertical frame member'IZ which exchines are used to place caps on filled cans, and. tends'upwardly to receive a top plate I3. The '5 to thereafter form a double seam between the top plate is formed with bearings I4 and I5 cap and the canwhile the can is traveling through through which a horizontally extending pulley the machine at a relatively high rate of speed. shaft l6 extends. At the outer end of this pul- In high speed can double seaming machines ley shaft is a pulley IT. The shaft is fitted with the machines often operate at a continuous a bevel pinion l8 in constant mesh with a bevel 10 speed of the order of 200 cans a minute, and gear IS. The bevel gear I9 is mounted upon a it is necessary to design the machine in a center shaft 28. These two gears are housed manner to insure that it will be thoroughly Within an oil case formed as a part of the top and continuously lubricated, and in a manner plate and which includes a lower pan 2| and a to insure that the parts of the machine will cover '22. The shaft bearing l5 occurs at one 1 be thoroughly protected so that slop and spill side of the pan and a shaft bearing 23 occurs at of the materials in the cans will not work its the opposite side of the pan and adjacent the way into the bearing surfaces of the machine, pinion l8. It is intended that the gear case and it is the principal object of the present invenshall be packed with a desirable lubricant so tion therefore to provide novel means for lubricatthat the pinion I8 and the gear l9 will run in 20 ing a high speed double seaming machine, and for this lubricant and will be thoroughly lubricated,

protecting the various parts from extraneous at'the same time diminishing the possible noise matter, and at the same time insuring that the which would be produced by the gears. At the machine will operate with a minimum amount of opposite end of the shaft 16 from the pulley l1 1 g is the hand wheel 24 by which the shaft may be 25 The present invention contemplates the promanually rotated when desired. vision of a double seaming machine having one The vertical center shaft 20 extends downor more double seaming turrets mounted to rotate wardly from the gear case through a bearing 25 on vertical axes, and which turrets areprovided carried by the top plate and through a bearing with certain selfecontained gear cases and hous- 5 Carried y t bed plat Pinned t0 the shaft 30 ings together with lubrication reservoirs by which 20 atits upper end is a dual driving gear 21. the moving partswill be protected, and the bear- Mounted upon the shaft beneath the driving dual ing surfaces constantly and adequately lubrigear is a turret sleeve 28. At the upper end of ated, I r the sleeve 28 is mounted an upper turret 29, and f The invention is illustrated by way of example adjacent the lower end of the sleeve 28 is mountso in the accompanying drawings, in which'.-- ed the lower turret 3B. These two turrets are vFigurell is-a view in plan showing the machine keyed to the sleeve and are driven by gear 3| with which the invention is concerned. keyed to the lower end of the sleeve and which Fig. 2 is a view in central vertical section as gear. is in mesh with a pinion -32 mounted upon a seenon the line 2--2- of Fig. 1. gear stud shaft 33 which is carried and pinned in 40 Fig. '3 is a view in horizontal section through a boss 34 of the bed plate. The pinion 32 is pmthe upper turret of the machine as seen. on the vided with a hub 35 upon which an intermediate line 3-3 of Fig.2. f g ar 35 is'keyed. This gear is in mesh with a Fig. 4 is a viewin planshowing the lifting cam lower center gear'3'l keyed onto the lower end of for the lower chuck discs .and the knockeout the shaft 20. It will, therefore, be seen that the 45 member for positively retracting these discs. shaft 20 and the turret sleeve 28 rotate at dif- Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view in side elevation ferent speeds around a common longitudinal vershowing the general formation of the lifting cam tical axis.

disclosed in Fig. 4. p The upper turret 29 carries double seaming Fig. "6 is a fragmentary view in vertical section units of the type shown in Patent No. 1,611,523, is- 50 showing one of thelower chuck spindles and the sued to me under date of December 21st, 1926. parts associated therewith and particularly dis- These seaming units are carried in head bearing closing the relation of the knock-out member plates 38 suitably secured within the openings 39 r thereto as seen onthe line 6 -6 of Fig. 4. in the turret housing by cap screws ln. Attention "Referring more'particularly'to the drawings,'l0 is directed to the fact that the turret 29 com- 55 prises a central hub 9| carrying a horizontally disposed plate or spider through which the circular openings 39 occur, and at the outer edge of which a cylindrical housing 42 is formed. This housing extends upwardly and at its upper end carries bosses 93 which are equally spaced in relation to each other around the axis of the turret and which provide fixed bearings for the upper chuck spindle 44 of each of the seaming units. The various bosses 43 are integrally formed with a cylindrical web having a horizontal upper plate 95 through which a circular central opening 46 occurs. This opening receives a frusto-conical canopy 91 having a cylindrical portion 49 extending down into the opening 45, and a frusto-conical portion extending upwardly into a horizontal disc 49 which carries a centralhub 59 serving as a bearing for the shaft 29. At the upper face of the disc portion is an extension of the hub 59 fitting inv bore 5! of the top plate to which it is mounted by means of cap screws resting with shoulders '52 and 53 against lower face of the top plate.

'By this arrangement the turret-structure and the canopy 9! completely house the double seaming drive gear 21 and the gears in mesh therewith.

' By reference to Fig. 2 of the drawings, it will be seen that the drive gear 21 is fitted at its outer circumference with a gear 54 and a gear 55. The gear 54 is in mesh with the double seaming head drive pinion 55 which is keyedonto the double seaming head sleeve l, and which sleeve at its lower end carries a double seaming head 58. The upper chuck spindle 99 telescopes through the sleeve. 51 and is fitted at its lowerend with an upper chuck 59 adapted to be fitted in the central circular recess of the cap of a can to be double seamed. The seaming operation is accomplished by sets of seaming rollers 99 carried by seaming levers 5| mounted upon shafts 52. These shafts are carried by bearings formed as part of the double seaming head 58. The levers 6i oscillate on their pivot shafts 62 in vertical planes radial with the axis of the spindle 99. The lower 'endsof these levers carry the seaming rollers 69 while at their opposite ends and upon the opposite sides of their fulcrums the levers carry cam rollers '63.

These rollers are mounted upon roller pins 94 which extend upwardly from the levers BI and are provided with indicting fingers 65 which may be set with relation to an adjusting pin 66 to vary the performance of the levers 6!. as they are swung by contact with the circumferential edge of a roller cam structure 61. This cam structure is shown as having an upper cam 69 in contact with the rollers 99, and a lower cam 69 in contact withrollers 19 carried by levers H which are pivoted upon shafts 52 and have mounted at their lower ends first seaming operation rollers .12; These structures are disposed at right angles to the pair of second seaming rollers 69 and their levers, and are carried by the seaming head. The a cam structure 61 is mounted on an outer sleeve 13 through'which the head'sleeve 51 extends. This outer sleeve projects upwardly through a ball thrust bearing 19 carried by the turret and is fitted with a cam drive gear 15 in meshwith the lower gear 55 of the driving gear 21. The cam sleeve '13 extends through the bearing plate 38.

Attention is directed to the fact that at time of assembling of the machine and before inserting of the assembly of the double seam head and cam drive gears 56 and 15 through opening 39 of the upper turret for purpose of timing it is desirable to temporarily lock the various moving elements in a certain relation together. This is done in the present case by providing a radial hole 16 which extends through the sleeve 51 of the double seaming head and may register with a hole 11 extending through the cam sleeve 13. These holes may register finally with a bore 18 extending through the bearing 38 so that a timing pin 19 may be inserted into the three holes to properly set and hold different moving parts with relation to each other. At the same time and for the same purpose, head and cam drive gear 21 is locked in certain positions of'the upper turret, by inserting pin I22 through hole I23 in theupper turret and matching hole I24 in the drive gear 21. The position of the upperturret is found by matching indexvpins I99 and I92 on lower turret and chuck cam guard. The upper end of the upper chuck spindle 94 is formed with an annular groove -89 to receive the enlarged collar 8| of an adjusting screw 82. This screw is mounted in the boss 93 and when vertically adjusted will act to vertically adjust the spindle and the chuck 59 with relation to the seaming rolls. An adjusting sleeve 83 is also mounted in the boss 43 and through which the spindle 44 extends. This sleeve may be adjusted by cap screw 89 and a cap screw 85. The upper chuck spindle 44 is formed with a central bore to receive a knock-out rod 85, the lower end of which normally lies flush with the lower' face of thechuck 59, the upper end being fitted with a rod end 81 adapted to move into engage ment with a cam face 98, to force the'rod downwardly against the compression of a spring 89,.

and to thus dislodge the can from the end of the 7 .The cam roll rests upon a lower chuck camfl96 which is held in position upon a cam plate 91 by a'clamping ring 99 secured to the bed plate II by cap screws 99. Circumscribing the cam 96 and extending'upwardl'y in a shielding position is an annular cam guard I99 which has a counterbore I9I to receive the downwardly extendinglip' of the lower turret 39,thus forming a seal between the outer wall 39' of the turret 39 and the cam guard, which will act to prevent extraneous matter from getting into the compartment from the lower chuck cam, and will make it possible to keep these parts clean and well lubricated.

'An annular flange I92 is formed around the marginal lip of the lower turretand overhangs the cam guard to actin shielding ofi material which might otherwise work'its way through the joint between the turret and the guard.

" The lower chuck slide 92 is mounted within bushing I93 carried by bearing I94 to the turret. The lower chuck mandrel not only has vertical movement as produced by verticalreciprocation of the slide .92, but also has resilient movement due to the fact that a spring I 99 is interposed between a shoulder I95 of the slide 92 and a washer I96 against which a spring adjusting pin I91 J bears. The pin' I91 extends upwardly through the mandrel 9| and contacts with an adjusting screw I98 threaded into the upper end of the mandrel. 'The' lower chuck 99 is provided with a central bore which is threaded onto the 751 egoeageao uppersend: of'the mandrel and has: asplitbearing which -may' be clamped by "a screw I09; and 'by which means thechuck plate 90 maybe'-accurate-' ly adjusted. r

The ca'ns are initially centered between the complementary upper and'lower fchucks by a star wheel I09 whichis fastened to ahub III! by ca'p'screws "III. 'The'hub II 0 is pinned to the turret-shaft 28, and is disposed in-a posltion'to supportthe pockets II2 of the star wheel at-a point between the-"complementary upper and lower-chucks. It is' 'to' be understood that while reference has been made to the construction and the-arrangement of parts of one upper chuck and one lower chuck that the turret embodies the structures of several chucks. 'In the present instance four sets of chucks and seamingheads "provided on the star wheel I09.

It maybe desirable'to retract the lower chuck slides 92positivelyafter theyhave been moved to their uppermost'position by'thecarn 95. For that purpose a lower chuck knockout H3 is mounted upon the clamping ring 99 andis fitted with a finger 'I I4 under which an extension of the roller pin 95 moves and by whichthe slide is pulled to its lowermost position.

By referring to Figs. 2' and 30f the drawings, it

' will'be seen that in addition to the housing 42 which encloses the gears of the various seaming heads, the seaming heads are further housed by an apron H5 which substantially circumscribes the upper turret in the area occupied by the seaming heads. This apron is formed at one end with a pivot lug H6 receiving a pin II1 by which it is pivotally attached to a bracket I IS. The bracket l I 8 is carried upon the frame upright I2. The free end of the apron H5 is provided with a fastening lug II9 to receive a bolt I20 and by which the lug is clamped to the frame member I2. The bracket H8 is formed'with a supplemental portion I2I which completes the circumscribing portion of the apron and insures thatthese parts will be entirely protected and housed so that oil which is upon the moving parts will:not be thrown off bycentrifugal force as the machine operatesand so that the various parts ofthe seaming head will not be'spattered'with extraneous matter incident to :the canning of material.

:In machines of this type it is necessary to properly time allof the moving parts of the machine so that they willroperate in synchronismito engage a can and its cap whenintroduced' in the machine and to correctly roll the seams. This makes it necessary that the lifting cams of the lower chuck and the feed movement'of the double seaming rollers shall .beaccurately timed with relation to each other. Such timing requires that the cansand rollers of the seaming heads shall be properly positioned. Heretofore this timing has been-accomplished for the. most part by the use of various index marks on the parts of the machine, so that when theyv are set in'register, the machine can be otherwise'adjusted. This has not proven an accurate or satisfactory method of timing, and forthat reason the timing pins I9 and I22 have beenprovided. The pins I9 as previously.described'pass through a'series ofopenings'ifi, TI and I8 in the sleeves and bushings of each of the double seaming heads andvthe pin I22 is designed to pass throughregistering openings I23 in the housing 42 and anopening I2 l in the cylindrical portion of the driving head .21. :JIVhen these pinsare in'position'it will be seen that the various driving gears will be locked against movement and that the spindles of the seaming. heads will be locked :against rotation, thusmakingit possible to accurately adjust the seaming: rolls andthe lifting cams to insure that the camJWiILproperly engage its cap and-will be held in this engaged position as the seaming rolls actauponthe members to roll them together.

iInrmostzprevious types .of construction some vertical adjustment for the chuck spindle has been provided, but in the present instance .addi-' tionaladjustmentshas been aiforded by the ad- .iu'sting sleeve .83 isurrounding the upper end'of the chuck spindle 44, which sleeve has a sliding fit in the upper turret bosses and is vertically adjusted by the two cap screws 82. This insures that the end thrust bearing I4 and the head .drive end thrust bearing H3 will be maintained. in properadjustment at all times, and will thuskeep the upper chuck 59 in correct relation toithe seaming rolls 60. I I

In1the operation of the machine, cans and as-' sociated caps are .fed onto the lower chuck 90 of the various stationsonthe turret as the chucks successively pass can and cap feeding means, afterwhich the cam rolls 94 move upwardly along the swell of the lifting cam '96 andbring the central circularindentation of the can cap into register with a superposed upper chuck 59 so that the'cap will be-properly held for seaming. The correct tension upon the can and cap may be obtained by proper adjustment of the screws I68 which is mounted within the lower chuck spindle 9| and acts against the thrust pin I01. This member in turn produces pressure against a spring I04 which is in effect interposed between the lower chuck plate and a corresponding cam'ro1ler'95. The turret is rotated by the driving action obtained through the jack shaft I6 upon which gear I8 is mounted and which gear is in mesh with gear I9. Gear I9 drives the shaft 20. This shaft-in turn imparts rotation to pinion 31 and gear 36. The gear 35 is keyed to thehub of pinion 32 and this hub drives the turret gear 3I mounted upon the hollow shaft 28. The upper end of this shaft drives the upper turret 2 9 which carries the various double seaming heads. It will be seen that the center shaft 20 also drives the double seaming head drive member 2'! and imparts motion to the various gears 56,55, 56, and 75 to cause driving action of thevarious cams for the double seaming cam rollers 63' and the double seaming head sleeves 51. It will be seen that due to the fact that the various gears and moving parts are enclosed in housings and are for the most part operating in'a lubricant such as grease, there will be little possibility for the grease to leak out causing wastage and objectionable deposits on the various parts of the machine, and that also the various moving parts of the machine will be protected from the splatter of extraneous matter due to canning operations.

. While I have'shown the preferred form of my invention,-as now known tome, it will be understood that various changes may be made in combination, construction, and arrangement of parts by those skilled in-the art without departing from the spirit of my invention as claimed.

Havingthus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:- 1. In a can double seaming mechanism a verticaldrive shaft, an'upper bearing and a lower bearing for rotatably supporting thesame, adrive sleeve through which the drive shaft extends, an upper turret keyed to the sleeve and having a plurality of fixed bearings formed as a part of saidturret and arranged in equal spaced;-rela-. tion to eachother around the axis thereof, a plurality of double seaming head unitsyhaving spindles. carrying sleeves and extending upwardly through the fixed bearings, operating gears .as-. sembledon said sleeves, seaming rolls andoperative means therefor assembled with said spindle sleeves, said; heads each carrying "a bearing through which the seaming head-structure rotates, and means, for detachably securing-said seaming head units to the turret whereby-said seaming heads may be lowered from operative position in the turret;

2. In a double seaming machine, a central drive shaft, a drive sleeve through-which said shaft extends, means for driving the shaft, gear transmission means forimparting rotation from the drive'shaft-to the drive "sleeve, a gear fixed to the drive shaft, a turret carried by the drive sleeve and havinga plurality of fixed bearings formed, as a part of the turret and spaced equidistance therearound, a plurality of removable seaming units each formed with an. upwardly projecting spindle upon'which a sleeve is keyed, said spindle being adapted to extend into the bearingopening of the various bearings ion the turret, said seaming units each carrying a'lower bearing structure assembled therewith and being provided with gears assembled with the spindle sleeve meshing with the gear upon the driveshaft, a double seaming head and operating means carried by the spindle sleeve and driven through said gears assembled therewith, means for fastening the upper extension of a seaming head in its upper fixed turret bearing, and means for fastening the lower seaming head bearing to the turret.

3. In a double seaming machine, a central drive shaft, a drive sleeve through which said shaft extends, means for driving the shaft, gear transmission means for imparting rotation from the drive shaftto the drive sleeve, a gear fixed to the drive shaft, a turret carried by the drive sleeve and having a plurality of fixed bearings formed as a part of the turret and spaced equidistance therearound, a plurality of seaming units each formed with an upwardly projecting spindle adapted to extend into the bearing opening of" the various bearings on the turret, said double seaming units each carrying a lower bearing structure assembled therewith and being provided with gears meshing with the gear upon the drive shaft, means for fastening the upper extension of a seaming head in its upper fixed turret bearing, said upper extension of each seaming head unit being formed with an annular groove at a point in the area confined by the upper fixed bearing, a lock screw carried by the bearing and adapted to extend into said annular groove, and means for detachably securing the lower seaming head bearing to the turret.

4. In a double seaming machine, a central drive shaft, a drive sleeve through which said shaft extends, means for driving the shaft, gear transmission means for imparting rotation from the drive shaft to the drive sleeve, a gear fixed to the drive shaft, a turret carried by'the drive sleeve and having a plurality of fixed bearingsformed as a part of the turret and spaced equidistance therearound, a plurality of seaming units each formed with an upwardly projecting spindle adapted to extend into the bearing opening ofthe various bearings on the turret, said double seaming units each carrying a lower bearing structure assembledtherewith --an d being provided with gears meshing with the geanupon the drive shaft, means for fastening the upper extensionof a seaming head in its upper: fixedturret bearing,

said upper extension of each seaming head unit being-formed with an annular groove at a point in the area confined by the upper fixed bearing, alock screw. carried by the bearing andadapted to extend into said annular groove, the-upper ex:

tension .of the seaming head unit being formed with a secondannular groove occurring upon the portionthereof which extends beyond the upper face of, its fixed turret bearing, a washer engaging the same, and adjustable means carried by the bearing to produce longitudinal adjustmentof saidmember. V a I .}5.}In a double seaming machine a central drive shaft, a tubular drivesleeve thereon,.rneans.for

driving the shaft, gearing I for imparting rotation from thedrive shaft to the driving sleeve, a turret fixed upon the drive-sleeve and being formed with. a substantially flat portion, the marginal f of circular openings concentrically aligned with thefixed bearings carriedby the turret, double seamingunits, the upperportion of whichmay pass through said circular openings and each'having an upwardly extending spindle upon which a sleeve is keyed, operating gears assembled on said sleeve, seaming rollsand operating means theree for assembled with said spindle sleeve, said spine dle being adapted to fitinto a fixed bearing of the turret and an annular flanged bearing to fit into and close the opening injthe turret through which it had beeninserted, and means {for hold- 7 ing said bearing in: positionjwith' relation to. the turret. g H j 6. In'a double seaming' machine a central drive shaft, a tubulardrive sleeve thereon, means for driving the shaft, gearing for imparting rotation from the drive shaft to the drivingsleeve, a' turret fixed upon the drive sleeve and being' formed,

with a substantially flat portion, the marginal edge of which is bounded by an upwardly extending continuous annularwall, aplurality of fixed seaming unit bearings formed: integral with said wall at the upper end thereof, said wall terminat ing in a solid. web s tructure through which the 7 bearing portions extend "and by'which anupper annular opening -is.formed,'the disc-"shaped por-' tioncof said turret'beingformedfwith a series of circular openings concentrically aligned withthe fixed bearings carried by the turret; seaming units the'upper portion of which may .passthroughsaid circular openings and each having an upwardly extending spindle upon which is mounted a keyed sleeve, operating gears assemble'd'on said sleeve;

seaming'rolls and operating means therefor assembled with said'spindle sleeve, said sleeve be-.

ing adapted to fit into a fixed-bearing of the turret and an annular fiange'dbearing' to fit into and close the opening in the turret through which it had been inserted, means for holding said bearing in position with relation to the turret, and

a disc structure carried-by the drive shaft and' forming a cover for the upper endof the turret ture may be filled with grease.

"I; In a double seaming machine of the upper and lower turret type comprising an upper chuck spindle, a support for the upper end of the upper chuck spindle, said spindle having an annular groove adjacent its upper end, of an adjusting sleeve in said support surrounding the upper end of said chuck spindle and projecting above the said support, an adjusting screw mounted in and capable of vertical movement with respect to said support, said screw engaging the projecting part of said sleeve, and a second adjusting screw mounted in and capable of vertical movement with respect to said support engaging the annular groove in said spindle whereby either the spindle or the adjusting sleeve or both may be vertically adjusted with respect to said support.

8. In a double seaming machine of the upper and lower turret type comprising an upper chuck spindle, a support for the upper end of the upper chuck spindle, an adjusting sleeve in said support surrounding the upper end of said chuck spindle, said adjusting sleeve being so arranged with respect to the support and the end of the spindle so that it may be vertically adjusted, -means for vertically adjusting said sleeve, said support and sleeve being provided with aligned openings, and the said spindle being formed adjacent at its upper end with an annular groove, which groove is in register with said openings, and means insertable into said openings and into said groove to lock said sleeve and spindle together.

9. In a double seaming machine of the upper and lower turret type comprising a support, a. tubular chuck slide mounted therein for vertical reciprocation, a cam roller pivotally carried at the lower end of the tubular chuck slide, a tubular chuck mandrel recipr'ocably mounted concentrically of the vertical axis of said tubular chuck slide, an adjusting pin reciprocably mounted within said mandrel, a chuck spring interposed between the lower end of said pin and an upwardly presented shoulder of the tubular chuck slide, adjustable means carried by the chuck mandrel for acting upon said pin and determining the tension of the spring, and a chuck plate carried at the upper end of the chuck mandrel.

.10. In a can double seaming machine having upper and lower chucks between which a can and cap are held incident to the double seaming operation, an over-hanging gear case formed with an upper bearing member and a lower bearing opening in vertical alignment with the longitudinal axis of the chucks, a seaming head unit carrying a central spindle, a tubular bearing therefor, a set of seaming rollers, individual drive gears therefor, said gears of a diameter to pass through the lower bearing opening in the over-hanging gear case, and a plate adapted to close said bearing opening and to secure the assembled seaming head unit in operative position with its upper portion supported within the upper bearing of the gear case.

HENRY L. GUENTHER. I 

